You may have thought to yourself: “I have decided to help other people, as well as the advancement of medicine, and hopefully benefit from finding a suitable treatment for myself. But how can I find a clinical trial near me?”
Medical researchers have been carrying out clinical trials for years now, with the aim of discovering better treatment options, and preventing many diseases.
In the past, clinical trials were conducted in large medical centers, which for a lot of participants meant having to travel long distances to be able to take part in trials. Nowadays, thousands of clinical trials are carried out in large medical centers, as well as small, local clinics or medical offices, every year.
Why volunteer in clinical trials near you? The advantages
Have a positive impact in your community
By participating in a medical trial near you, you will have the opportunity to benefit those closest to you, as well as future generations. Every volunteer counts, and with your participation you also help researchers better understand diseases and find the best treatment for them. There are medical advances each day, thanks to all the research being done, and all the people like you who decide to participate for the good of their community. It is a great opportunity and sharing this experience can make a difference in the not-too-distant future.
It is easier to fit it into your routine and stay committed
It is important that you feel comfortable participating in the clinical trial, and the process fits into your day to day. Participating in medical research close to home means not having to travel long distances, which saves you time and effort and will allow you to be more actively involved. Being comfortable during the duration of the study will help avoid barriers that might prevent you from completing it.
How to search for clinical trials?
To find people who are suitable for the various clinical trials and who are interested in participating in them, many studies are advertised and promoted by researchers. For those looking to join a clinical trial, there are some resources and databases which can help in this search.
Online resources
- National Institute of Health (NIH): the United States’ medical research agency
Sometimes, during our searches online, we come across terminology repeated throughout different websites, which we don’t quite understand, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what they’re saying, right? To help with this, we recommend checking out the NIH’s official glossary of the most common terms in clinical trials, which is part of the US National Library of Medicine.
The NIH website is an excellent source of information for those who are interested in learning about the different types of clinical research, what is involved in participating in each of them, and what you may me asked if you are considering participating in one. As well, it offers personal stories from volunteers, as well as resources for parents and children.
You can always keep them handy by saving them in your favorites and use them as a reference when you surf the web.
- ClinicalTrials.gov
As part of the NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov serves as website and data base for specific clinical trials that take place all around the United States.
When carrying out a search on this website, you are given optional filters to help find what you are looking for. The basic filters include the condition or disease, the intervention or treatment, and the location by country, state, or city, but there is a long list of options you can use in your search. Find and access them by clicking on the “More Filters” button.
Tip: you can narrow your search by filtering studies depending on whether they are recruiting participants at the moment, or not.
As you select a specific clinical trial, you will be able to see the inclusion and exclusion criteria, how the study is designed, the medication to be used, the duration and the objective of the study. The website also provides information on the clinics or locations where the study is carried out, the name of the investigators and publications on the results already obtained, if there have been other related studies.
Doctor or specialist
One of the most trusted resources is your primary care physician or specialist. They know you personally and your medical history, thus they can help you find the most appropriate clinical trial for you or refer you to other specialists.
If you have already found a study you are interested in, you can also turn to your doctor for guidance and help understanding the information provided by the trial’s investigators, especially the Informed Consent Form (ICF) which includes all relevant details about the study and what you can expect from participating in it.
Before signing the ICF, you have the right to go home with it and take the time to consult with your family, friends and your primary care physician or trusted specialist. We recommend you use this opportunity to ask them any questions or doubts you may have, convey your fears and insecurities, go over relevant details and procedures, as well as your rights as a patient.
Research teams
Making an appointment or going straight to the research team offices it’s a great way to get a firsthand explanation of the trial and what it entails.
Even after agreeing to participate and signing the ICF, the investigator and their team will be your primary source of information about the trial and relevant updates. Communication between a patient and their doctor plays an essential role in establishing and maintaining trust, and the same is true for clinical trials. When there is a good relationship between you, as a participant, and the study team, the experience of being in a clinical trial is better. All of this tends to be easier when you live near the trial’s clinic or center.
Ready to become a volunteer and a game-changer for your community?